At first glance, the glowing reports about Finnish education make it sound like a magical fairyland. Some of the myths surrounding the legend of Finland’s education system are that teachers’ work is easy and there are no high-stakes tests.

Actually, teachers work very hard in Finland. But a lot of it starts before teachers even begin their training.

A prospective teacher first applies to one of 11 universities in Finland. It’s a popular career. Last year, the University of Helsinki received 1,800 applications for 120 places for its primary teaching programme.

The selection process is competitive and tough. The entry requirement is the Finnish matriculation exam or equivalent, a high-stakes exam at the end of secondary school (first myth busted).

A two-stage selection process begins next. In the first stage, applicants undertake a nationwide reading comprehension test (another high-stakes exam) that requires extensive preparation (hard work). This is a deliberate move to ensure only the most motivated and the brightest candidates advance to the second stage.

Stage two includes interviews, observed teaching, and group situations to filter applicants with the personal qualities to become a good teacher.

Next, all teachers, including primary school teachers, have to gain a specialised master’s degree (hard work) in education to begin teaching (second myth busted).

Figures support the view that teachers can finally relax once they start teaching, and the life of a teacher does seem easier in Finland. OECD figures on teaching hours show New Zealand teachers spend 50% more time in the classroom than their Finnish counterparts. US teachers spend more time still.

This doesn’t mean teaching is an easy job in Finland. One Finnish teacher told me she was really looking forward to the holidays. Teachers get tired in Finland, too. But how tiring must it be for a New Zealand teacher who on average works substantially more hours than a Finnish teacher does without being rewarded with nearly the same levels of student success?

Finland does better with fewer teacher hours. Some of this can be explained by very different schools and students in Finland and New Zealand. But it comes back to the issue of investing in teachers upfront and ensuring it is hard work to become a teacher in the first place.

Rose Patterson is working on The New Zealand Initiative's project on teacher quality. She has just visited Finland as part of her research. Watch Rose talk about her findings on our YouTube channel.